by T. R. Harris
In a way, Adam felt sorry for Convor. He knew that much of Convor’s distress came from the spiritual aspect of the procedure, which was something Adam didn’t buy into. This was simply an artificial means of controlling nearby electronic devices. It had nothing to do with gods or magical powers, no matter how the Formilians looked at it. The fact that they did attach such a strong religious significance to the device – to the Gift – only helped to harden Adam’s resolve. Seeing Convor’s emotional reaction to the situation brought only three words to Adam’s consciousness: Get over it!
Chapter 20
Good to his word, three days later Adam was reclined on a hospital bed in a sterile room occupied by only him, Convor and his assistant Trimen. According to a still very upset pair of Formilians, the most complicated part of the operation would be implantation of the pressure switch under the skin of Adam’s lower back. The actual control module would be more routine, the result of literally thousands of similar implants into the Speakers of the past.
The two aliens didn’t bother with surgical masks; in fact they both seemed rather nonchalant about the operation. Adam wasn’t sure if this was result of them not caring about Adam’s procedure or because it was so routine to them. He chose to believe the latter, if only for his own peace of mind.
From a small table next to the bed, Convor pulled back a white cloth and lifted a shiny metal cylinder about the size of a cigarette. There were no markings on the device, just a smooth surface that belied its hidden power.
“Is that it?” Adam asked. “It’s pretty small.”
“It must be placed inconspicuously under the skin; it cannot be any larger.” Adam could see both the aliens gazing upon the device, now held gently by Convor with two fingers. They each had faraway expressions, as if looking upon an object of major religious significance – which what it was to them. Convor lifted the module up a little higher, until the light from a bright lamp above the bed sparkled off its surface.
“Throughout all of time, Mislin and Sufor have guided the workings of the universe,” Convor spoke in a soft chant, as if reciting a practiced ritual. “With miraculous precision, they have guided our hands and our knowledge to provide us this channel to their glory and to their creation. We dedicate this Gift in the name of their greatness, to their eternal control over all that we are.” His voice began to crack at the end, and then he glanced down at Adam, his eyes full of tears. “May you forgive me for what I do, my Lords. To maintain your glory for the benefit of all, I must commit this greatest of all sacrilege. An outlier – and a non-female of the Speaker-strain – shall gain access to your holy chambers and witness your power first-hand. Forgive me, and all who have assisted. We have done this for you. Guide the wisdom and actions of Adam Cain for the preservation of your glory and of your Gift.”
Adam felt like shit. This was really a big deal for the Formilians. Could he let them go through with this just for his own selfish desires? This event was something that had never happened before in their entire history. First all, a male was to be implanted with the device, and secondly, it was an alien male to boot.
He swallowed hard, looking at the shiny silver cylinder with added reverence. It was so small, and yet it carried so much potential power. With it, he would be able to control nearly every electronic device within half a mile. He would learn to control it with his thoughts, and then transfer those thoughts to the devices he sought to control. As Convor had explained over the past three days, it would not work in all circumstances, namely in locations with very few electronics or those of primitive design. Yet the Formilian micro-processors dominated the Expansion universe, so out here Adam would have incredible access to nearly every operating system on every planet. Hell, the aliens even used computer-control for things as simple as lights, doors and temperature control, and all the way up to the operating of starships and flash weapons. He doubted if the device would have much influence back on his native Earth, since a lot of their devices there were powered by simple circuits without computer or micro-processor control. But he might be able to disrupt the flow of electricity to those circuits. He wasn’t sure; that would all be part of the discovery phase of his training.
But now looking at the innocuous-looking device, Adam’s heart began to race. There was so much potential here for some real superman shit to take place, and not just the occasional bashing of alien skulls. Yes, he would go through with the implant in spite of the Formilian’s attempt at laying an incredible guilt-trip on him. Screw them! To Adam, this was simply a tool, a piece of equipment not unlike his FN 17 SCAR assault weapon. Besides, he truly believed that he would use his new powers for good, something even the Speakers had not done in all their long history. All they had ever used this incredible Gift for were extravagant exhibitions and as a means of keeping the population mesmerized into obedience. Adam Cain was a force for good, and now he would be even a more-powerful force….
“Let’s get on with it, Convor,” he said finally. “And relax; I’m not looking to commune with your gods anymore then they wish to commune with me. Your religion will be safe, as will be your culture and society.”
Convor lowered his hand and placed the device back on the table. “Your words are meant to appease, but they cannot. By using the Gift of the Gods, you will be accessing their power. In that way you will be constantly communing with our gods – as you so sarcastically call it. It cannot be avoided. You may not believe as we do, but you cannot dispute the power our gods exert throughout the universe. Their presence is everywhere and in everything. Our very bodies rely on their energy to survive. They are everywhere and in everyone and everything. Can you not see their glory as you look out at all around you?”
“That’s an impressive speech, Convor, and I can see how you can put a supernatural significance to what is just a basic force of nature. I suppose it is better to believe in something than to believe in nothing at all.”
“As you do….”
“I suppose. But I am not without spirituality or morality. I just believe those traits originate from within each of us, and not from some external god or gods.”
“As do we! Do not mistake our faith for naïveté regarding the workings of science. We are much more adept at the creation of advanced electronics than any other race in the galaxy. We understand the creation of electricity and all its means of delivery to power any myriad of devices. Yet we go deeper in our thinking than most. We ask where does this power originate? Even though we know it can be created by simple magnets and copper wire, or extracted from the atmosphere by the rubbing two pieces of cloth together, we seek the origin of this power. And as each magnet has two opposing poles, our gods of Mislin and Sufor have been at work since the dawn of time creating the power that runs the universe. This power is as great as the cosmos, yet as personal as the very thoughts coursing through our brains at this moment. It emanates from within, just as you say. It gives life to our bodies and to our minds. Every action of our body is controlled by impulses created by Mislin and Sufor, and then this power reaches out to influence all other objects around us. You call this a basic force of the universe, and I also agree. But where did this force come from in the first place, if not from the Gods themselves? Unlike many other religions throughout the galaxy, ours is based on tangible evidence, on things that can be felt and observed. We see it in the spark of static electricity or the flash of a lightning bolt. We also see it return to its origins among the Gods when the last spark of life fades from our bodies.”
Adam slowly shook his head. “I respect your beliefs, I really do. I just choose to attribute my own beliefs more to the individual and less to forces from beyond.”
“We are talking in circles, Adam Cain,” Convor glared at him. “Are you still going to insist on the procedure?”
“Roger that … meaning a definite yes! And you can believe what you wish, but I do not want to cause any problems for the Formilians or your Coalition. You’ve had such an incredibly-powerful device
in your control for such a long time, and yet you have not used it to its fullest potential. In a way that’s good – a testament to your faith – otherwise the galaxy would be running rampant with brainiacs all sitting around fighting for control of every electronic device in sight. It would be chaos. I do understand why you have kept the knowledge of this technology to yourselves, and why so few have ever been fitted and trained to use it. I will keep your secret, Convor. You have to trust me on this. Besides, you may eventually find that I will be able to help your people with this device rather than harm them. But I’ll never be able to prove my true intentions unless you do the operation.”
Convor considered Adam for a very long time, staring into his eyes with an incredible sadness in his own. “Very well; above my most adamant protestations, I will oblige.” Convor turned to Trimen and nodded.
The other alien moved to the opposite side of the table and waved a small wand-like device over Adam’s face. There was slight odor in the air, and almost immediately Adam Cain fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
The passing of time was non-existent. When Adam opened his eyes, he fully expected to find Convor and Trimen hovering over him, preparing to operate. Instead, he was alone in room with dim lighting and the soft, rhythmic cadence of a heart monitor mounted on a side wall.
So it was done – the device was now implanted in his body – under his right armpit! Adam had been surprised to learn this was where the implants were placed, under the arm rather than within the skull or along the spinal cord. As Trimen had explained, technically the device didn’t even have to be implanted into the subject to work. Once tuned to a particular brainwave frequency it could be controlled from anywhere within a twenty-foot radius. It had just proven more convenient over the millennia to carry the device buried under the subject’s skin rather than as a separate unit.
Adam took his left hand and felt the skin under his right arm. There was only a slight trace of an incision, and he felt no pain. The opening in his skin only had to be big enough for the half-inch diameter cylinder to fit through, so the operation had been minimally invasive.
The insertion of the control switch, however, was more complicated, involving a three-inch long incision, followed by the securing of the switch to his muscles so it wouldn’t slip, and then a long-term battery placed to the side. The switch then had to be adjusted so that the pressure button was located just under the skin, and not become lost over time under scaring tissue. He had been warned that once the anesthesia wore off, most of the pain he would feel would come from the location of the switch.
He had no idea what time it was or how long he’d been under. There were no windows in the room and no clocks on display. He looked around to see if he could find a call button, but found none.
He was also curious how long his recovery would take. He was sure that the switch in his back would be very sensitive to touch for at least a few days, but in spite of that, he was anxious to try out his new toy, something that would involve pressing the button through his tender skin.
He heard the opening of a door – a soft swish as a panel slid into the wall to his left. When no one entered immediately, Adam called out, “Who’s there? Come in if you’re there.”
Trimen slowly showed his head around the corner – just his head – and began to look around, his eyes wide as he surveyed the room. Seeing only Adam and the quiet within, he cautiously entered.
“What was that all about?” Adam asked.
Trimen didn’t answer, but was followed closely by Convor. As the two aliens entered the dimly lit room and approached the bed, Adam could see various bandages on the arms of both the Formilians, with Convor also displaying an angry red splotch on the side of his neck. It appeared as if both of them had been in a fight, and probably not come out as the victors.
“What happened to you?” Adam asked, more curious than concerned. They may have been battered, but they were still moving fairly well.
“It was as I suspected; it is a miracle any of us are still alive.”
Adam’s jaw fell open, even though he didn’t have a clue what Convor was talking about. It was Trimen who spoke next.
“The High Celebrant tried to warn you. Even though you were unconscious, your brain was still creating thoughts, and your curiosity regarding the operation of the Gift was foremost in those thoughts.”
“I’m confused.”
Convor sat down heavily in the only chair in the room. He looked extremely tired. “The device had to be tuned and the switch tested. I had hoped that since you were under deep sedation, your thought patterns would be minimal. I was incorrect.
“The Gift began to seek control of every electronic device within range and without limits,” Trimen continued. “Surgical lights exploded, automatic equipment went into spasms, and monitor screens blew shards of glass throughout the room. And the Gift was only activated for a moment.”
“I don’t remember any of that, or even any dreams I may have had.”
“Your subconscious mind was apparently fixated on the device. Even below dream level, you were thinking of every electronic device you could imagine. The visual aspect of your thoughts was easily translated by the device and turned into action. You even managed to conjure up a small static ball – which is unheard of in the small time frame the device was activated.”
“What’s a static ball?” Was this like the sparkling ball Arieel had formed? He had made one of those!
e ha
“That is not important now; I will explain later. Right now it is imperative that you not activate the device until we have had time to go over some of the protocols of the Gift, and well as place you in a safer location.”
Adam smiled. “So now you want to train me.”
“It is not a matter of want, but rather necessity. Unless you are willing to leave the planet immediately, we do this for our own safety. And if you were truthful about having a file ready for download into the Library, I must make sure you survive long enough to countermand your precautions.”
Adam nodded. “That’s pretty smart, Convor. I’m glad we’re finally working together.”
“Do not find solace in the actions I am taking. At the earliest opportunity, you will be placed onto a ship and cast off into space – but only after we are assured that you are satisfied with our side of the negotiation.”
“Fair enough, but how soon until I can take this thing out for a test drive?”
Convor and Trimen looked at each other and frowned, attempting to decipher the translation playing in their ears. Then Convor said: “You will be transported to a location in the country, outside the city, but it will still be a day or so before you will be able to activate the switch without too much pain. At that point, you will have to be closely monitored, ready to sever the contact at a moment’s notice, no matter how painful the action may be.”
“I can’t wait. Besides, what’s a little pain among friends?”
Chapter 21
It took incredible effort on Adam’s part not to activate the unit over the next two days, but the time did allow his wound to heal some. After all, he fully intended for the device to an integral part of his life from here on out. He had time to get used to it.
In the meantime, he was transported to a simple cabin located outside the capital city of Vull, in the backwoods of Formil, to begin his brief training session. The structure was constructed of wood and plaster, and consisted of a combined living, eating and cooking area, as well as two small private bedrooms, each with very basic grooming stations.
Trimen accompanied him to the cabin; Convor was too important and prominent a figure to disappear from view for the ten days the Formilians had allocated as Adam’s basic training session. Both of the high ranking Celebrants had been very adamant that at the end of this period Adam was to leave the planet, whether he felt comfortable with the operation of the device or not. It was further explained to him that all Trimen would be teaching him was the basic theory behind the d
evice. Refinement of his skills would be self-taught over months, if not years.
During the brief time he had spent with Arieel, Adam saw that the device could do much more than simply turn switches on and off. He recalled the soft blue glow that had surrounded her body as she lay injured on the ground of Uniss-3. In addition, the comment she had made that about her life-force being enhanced haunted his thoughts.
Just what is this thing? Can it also heal wounds and increase strength? Adam was anxious to find out … as well as more than a little apprehensive. He had also witnessed Arieel’s foolish overconfidence in her abilities, and he knew thinking like that could get him killed. But one step at a time, he thought. First I have to learn how to control this thing without killing anyone, including myself!
On the morning of the first day of training, Trimen emerged from the bedroom he’d claimed for himself carrying a black and silver electronic device about the size of a large walkie-talkie. He placed the device on the solitary table in the room and sat down.
“Sit, Adam Cain,” the alien commanded, as a master would to his dog. His demeanor still broadcast the resentment he felt towards Adam, however, over the past few days he’d let slip some of the excitement he felt about the unique opportunity to study the operation of the device with the mind of a male. Trimen was first and foremost a scientist, and even though his faith had been badly insulted by Adam’s actions, his natural curiosity was sometimes hard to disguise. Adam figured he could use this conflict to his advantage. If possible, Adam would become Trimen’s star-pupil, and therefore gain the alien’s trust and respect.
“As you have noticed, there are very few electronic devices within the structure,” Trimen began. “The lights are gas-operated, as are the meal preparation facilities. We are isolated from the power grid, with no electric sources closer than ten miles away.”